US intelligence officials have revealed details of a plan to send Edward Snowden back to the United States to stand trial.
According to a senior intelligence official, this move is a "gift" in an attempt to curry favor with President Trump, who during his election campaign called Snowden a "spy" and a "traitor" who deserves to be executed.
For Snowden, extradition would mean he would face charges for crimes under the Espionage Act that could carry a sentence of at least 30 years in prison up to life in prison.
Snowden's lawyer, Ben Wizner, told NBC News that his client has no knowledge of such plans. "The Snowden team has not received any such information and has no concerns," Wizner said.
As for Snowden himself, he took the opportunity to point out that the planned release offers "irrefutable proof" that he is not collaborating with Russian intelligence services.
It remains unclear how far from the truth such a plan is, or whether Russia is “committed” to Snowden’s extradition. For now, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov says the report in question is “nonsense.”.
